PENN RELAYS: Villanova falls short again in 4 x 8

PHILADELPHIA --- It was a case of déjà vu for Villanova in the college men's 4 x 800-meter Championship of America Saturday afternoon at the Penn Relays.

Like a day earlier in the DMR, the Wildcats were in the race until the bitter end, only to come up a little bit short. Villanova finished fourth behind Penn State, Oregon and Columbia.

Robbie Creese pulled away in the final 200 meters to give the Nittany Lions their second title of the relays. Penn State won the sprint medley title Friday. Villanova anchor Samuel Ellison, who ran the 800 in the DMR, stayed with the leaders until the final 50 meters.

The Nittany Lions finished in 7:19.76. The Wildcats were timed in 7:21.04.

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"I just didn't have enough left," Ellison said.

While Ellison and the Wildcats were disappointed about not winning they did take some consolation that three of the four members are underclassmen. Ellison, Sam McEntee and Christopher Fitzsimons are sophomores. Leadoff man Brian Tetreault is the only senior.

"We're young and we have a lot of talent," Ellison said. "We'll be back next year."

Former Villanova standout Nicole Schappert finished seventh in the women's Olympic Development mile run (4:41.13). Her younger sister Stephanie, who is a freshman for the Wildcats placed 16th.